What are the best sweet varieties of onions, description

Onions are quite often in demand; they are grown in garden beds and are not at all demanding to care for. But not everyone knows that ordinary onions have many different varieties, differing in color, taste and even smell. There are sweet types of onions that fit well into any salad or other dish. An important feature of these varieties is that even over time, onions do not lose their beneficial properties and retain all their taste.

What determines the sweetness of onions?

The quality of onions often depends on the area where they are grown. For a long time, breeders have developed varieties that are most suitable for different regions. There are several main reasons why an onion can be very bitter:

• Lack of fertilizers with phosphorus. In some cases, people with experience recommend adding more fertilizer with superphosphate.
• For good taste, onions need moist, but not swampy soil. When grown in dry soil, the bulb will develop a bitter taste.
• Unsuitable climate. It is important to consider the weather of the region when choosing seeds. If it is not suitable, the vegetable will lose its taste characteristics and become bitter.

Sweet onions can be eaten raw

Attention! When growing any type of onion, you need to pay attention to the conditions and follow the rules of agricultural technology.

Differences between Yalta and other varieties

To avoid becoming a victim of scammers, it is important to know which onion is sweeter - white or red. If the second implies the Yalta variety, then it is undoubtedly sweeter. However, it is necessary to know the differences between this variety and those that are similar in appearance but have a pungent or bitter taste.

The Yalta bulb is flat or round, with thick inner layers. This feature will help distinguish it from similar ones; other varieties have thin inner layers.

The color of the layers is also characteristic: white, with a purple border, while other layers often do not have a border.

For reference! This amazing variety goes on sale exclusively in July; in all other months there is a high risk of buying a fake that does not comply with GOST.

More about sweet varieties: history of selection, taste, areas of application

People have known about onions for a long time. Agricultural cultivation technology has been developed over centuries. But I always wanted to get a vegetable with a sweeter taste. This is what breeders do. Currently, there are many types of sweet (salad) onions that have an excellent taste. One of the most popular and oldest is the Crimean (Yalta) red onion, which is distinguished by its flattened shape and excellent taste.

Such vegetables have virtually no bitterness and do not cause tears when peeling and cutting. Sweet onions differ in size - they are larger and meatier than regular varieties. The vegetable is not so bitter due to the low amount of sulfur-containing essential oils, which are responsible for the bitterness. However, vitamins and nutrients are retained in full. In addition, such varieties contain a large amount of phytoncides that protect against various viruses.

The most famous is the Yalta (Crimean) onion

Sweet varieties of onions are great for salads and sauces in various recipes. Eating such onions raw is a pleasure; they can be used in various dishes (for example, you can make a winter salad with peppers and carrots). A perfectly sweet vegetable that goes well with tomatoes and potatoes. It can also be used to prepare various dishes, it has a mild taste and a wonderful aroma.

For reference! Sweet onions can be grown in any region of the Russian Federation (even in Siberia and the Urals), however, depending on the climate zone, the planting method will also differ.

In warm areas, seeds can be sown in the spring, but in cool climates the crop can only be grown using seedlings. Planting seeds in central Russia will not give any results.

The benefits of onions

Any vegetable from the onion family, when consumed regularly, prevents the appearance of cancerous tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. The elements contained in the vegetable have an anti-inflammatory effect.

• Chemical composition.

Onions are very rich in vitamins and microelements. Contains from 8 to 14% sugar, as well as: proteins, enzymes, vitamins, mineral salts, potassium, phosphorus, iron and others.

Onion feathers also contain sugar, proteins, vitamin C and essential oil, which is why the vegetable has a specific taste. The composition contains iodine, pectin, organic acids and other useful elements.

Onions are often used in folk medicine. It has anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects.

Red varieties of sweet onions

Sweet red onion varieties are considered more tasty. Many summer residents want to grow a similar plant on their plots. This vegetable is great for many dishes. It has a rather beautiful color, which adds a more original look to the food.

The most popular varieties are:

• Red Baron. The variety grows well in the Moscow region. The fruits are red and sweet, and can color other foods when used together in dishes. Excellent for eating raw and can be stored well.
• Crimson ball. An early variety that can be eaten 4 months after planting. It has a high and stable yield and is suitable for raw consumption. It is better to grow seedlings. When planted by seeds, development takes a long time.
• Greatful. Hybrid variety, belongs to the species of medium ripening. Keeps well for a long time.
• Campillo. Not susceptible to many diseases, easily tolerates climate changes. It has a soft and pleasant taste and can be consumed without heat treatment.
• Black Prince. The variety is very sweet, preserves well and contains a large amount of useful elements and vitamins.
• Retro. An early ripening variety, it can be harvested 2.5 months after planting. Vegetables are quite large in size, suitable for consumption raw.

It is also worth noting the type of Carmen, which has a soft and pleasant taste. There are many varieties of red onions, so you can choose the one most suitable for climatic conditions and other characteristics.

For central Russia

To date, a considerable number of varieties of sweet onions have been developed that can be safely grown in central Russia. They are divided into two types:

1. mid-season;
2. late ripening.

• Arzamas.

Refers to varieties of medium ripeness. You can harvest the crop 3-3.5 months after planting. The weight of one bulb is approximately 35-75 g. The Arzamas variety can be planted using the sowing method. The fruits are round in shape and medium in size. Well preserved, resistant to various diseases.

• Comet F1.

Also refers to a mid-season onion variety. The harvest can be harvested 3.5 months after planting in the ground. The fruits are round in shape, weighing from 50 to 75 g. Comet has white scales, fruits with a sweet taste. It is very popular among gardeners, because the bulbs are unpretentious in care and produce a good harvest. From one square meter you can harvest more than 2 kg of white onions.

• Spanish.

This variety gives a late harvest. You can start collecting it only 4 - 4.5 months after planting it in the ground. The fruits are round in shape, of medium density. The taste can vary from sweet to slightly spicy. It is famous for its increased yield: from one square meter you can get up to 3 kg of large fruits.

Unfortunately, Spanish onions are preserved rather poorly, so growing them for storage is not recommended.

• Ecstasy.

An old variety, grown by many summer residents. You can plant it using the sowing method or use seeds for planting. Yellowish in color, round in shape. The weight of one bulb is approximately 100-120 g. 1 kg of fruit is collected from one square meter.

• Sima.

The Sima variety is often grown from seeds. The color of the bulbs is brown, the fruits are ellipsoidal in shape. This variety is classified as single-germinate. From one square meter you can harvest more than 3 kg of vegetables.

• Candy F1.

It is a hybrid and is grown from seeds. The color of the onion is dark brown, oval in shape. The weight of one fruit is approximately 85 g. From one square meter you can get from 2 to 4 kg of harvest.

• Capricorn.

It is an early ripening hybrid. It is not recommended for growing in bad weather conditions, in which severe frosts are possible. The shape of the fruit resembles an oval, the bulbs are brown in color. One fruit can weigh from 100 to 150 g. From one square meter you can get from 2.5 to 3.5 kg of harvest.

A summer resident talks about how Candy onions grow and how to grow them.

White varieties of sweet onions

White (yellow) onions are grown by many summer residents. It tastes great and doesn't require much effort. Many varieties of white sweet onions have been bred, some of them are especially popular:

• Globo. The variety is a late variety and is characterized by high productivity. Good for salads, but unfortunately has very little shelf life. The white fruits are juicy, have an excellent sweetish taste and are quite heavy in weight; their weight can reach almost 1 kg. It is recommended to eat fresh and add to various dishes.

Red varieties are considered sweeter

• Comet. The variety is early ripening, with a pleasant taste, no bitterness. The variety gives a good harvest and does not require special care. Bulbs can weigh up to 70 grams. It can be stored for about six months and is resistant to some fungal diseases.
• Spanish 313. It is distinguished by rather large fruits, the weight of which can reach 150 grams. The taste is sweetish, without much bitterness, and can be stored for a long time. Grown by seedlings. This variety tolerates cold well and is resistant to various diseases.

These are the most popular varieties of sweet white onions, which are often chosen by summer residents for growing on their plots. Another one of them is Exhibition.

What is blue onion

For those who do not know what purple onions are called, this article was written. Every gardener calls blue onions differently. Some say so - blue, others call it - red onion or purple. All these names come precisely from the color of the bulb itself. Whatever it is called, its properties and features do not change. This vegetable came to Russia from distant Spain and, after long and fruitful work of breeders, firmly established itself in these parts.

At first it was bitter, like ordinary onions, but, thanks to the work of professionals, the bitterness was partially gone, and the vegetable became beautiful in appearance and with a sweet taste. The bulb of this species has a rich purple color. Not only the surface, but also the flesh acquired the same shade. Naturally, all the bitterness did not leave the product; it acquired a gentle, more pleasant aftertaste. Purple onions contain a large number of useful microelements, which is why they are widely used not only in cooking, but also in folk medicine.

Blue bow

Features of cultivation

Growing sweet onions is no more difficult than regular onions. However, there are a number of features that will allow you to achieve a good harvest and pleasant taste:

• It is better to plant in sunny areas. In the shade, the onion most often begins to produce more greenery, but the bulb does not develop.
• Before planting, fertilizers are applied to the soil, and several more fertilizing treatments are carried out during the season to provide the vegetable with all the necessary elements.
• It is best to soak seeds and sets in potassium permanganate before planting, and plant them after they have dried.

Caring for sweet onion plantings

Caring for plantings is similar to caring for any type of onion. It is important to provide the crop with the necessary watering - in dry soil, onions become bitter. However, it is important that moisture does not stagnate, otherwise the risk of rot and disease will increase.

Attention! The soil around the plantings must be loosened and weeds removed to ensure access of air and nutrients to the fruits.

Feeding is carried out several times per season. In June, you can use organic fertilizers. It is recommended to pay attention to phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the period of fruit formation; their deficiency also leads to the appearance of an unpleasant taste in the bulbs.

Harvest

A couple of weeks before harvesting, stop watering the onions completely. In most cases, the harvest date is written on the seed bags. However, experienced summer residents know that they can harvest onions as soon as the shoots turn yellow and fall down.

After digging, the vegetable is left in the fresh air under a canopy to dry, after which it can be cleaned of the remaining soil and stored.

The Globo variety is distinguished by its impressive size

What varieties can you grow?

In the middle zone

• Black Prince;
• Arzamas;
• Sima;
• Caramel;
• Candy F1;
• Capricorn F1;
• Spanish 313;
• Ecstasy.

In Siberia

• Black Prince;
• Siberian annual;
• Retro;
• Spanish 313;
• Comet F1.

In the Urals

• Myachkovsky 300;
• Siberian annual;
• Exhibition;
• Carmen MS;
• Hercules F1.

Storage specifics

Sweet onions, unfortunately, have a shorter shelf life in winter than regular onions. Therefore, it is important to follow all the rules and take into account the features.

Indoors, the permissible temperature is considered to be +16..+18 degrees; at temperatures above this, the onions will begin to wither and deteriorate. It is recommended to remember that the maximum shelf life of such a crop reaches January, so it is better to plant different varieties - both sweet and bitter.

Sweet onions are popular among many summer residents. Excellent taste makes it possible to consume this vegetable raw, resulting in a large amount of vitamins. The culture is not particularly demanding in care, which may vary slightly depending on the variety. The only drawback is the inability to store it for a long time even if all conditions are met.

Advantages and disadvantages

Blue onions have a large number of advantages, among which I would like to highlight the following:

• high productivity;
• large heads;
• excellent taste;
• versatility in application;
• keeping quality;
• resistance against diseases.

It should be noted the beneficial qualities of the vegetable for the human body. First of all, you need to pay attention to the chemical composition of the vegetable, which differs significantly from other types. The largest accumulation of useful substances is in the upper layers of onions. Therefore, when cleaning, you need to be careful and not remove the top balls, otherwise you can destroy a large amount of minerals and vitamins.

Interesting fact. During the preparation of onions for food and its heat treatment, all the beneficial qualities of the vegetable are completely preserved.

When consuming blue onions, a person receives the necessary amount of antioxidants, thanks to which the body rejuvenates, tissue cells are restored, and stop dying prematurely. This vegetable is a good remedy for the prevention of cancer. Lilac onions also resist inflammatory processes in the body and strengthen the immune system.

Blue onions are used to treat kidney diseases. In order to clean the bile ducts, you need to use the prepared onion mixture with sugar. Below is a description of the recipe.

Blue onions are used to treat kidney diseases

You need to take half a kilogram of purple onions and a glass of powdered sugar. The onion is chopped and placed in a bowl with powder. Mix thoroughly and place in the oven. As soon as the mixture turns golden, take it out and cool it. Take twenty milligrams three times a day thirty minutes before meals.

The only disadvantages of blue onions include an inconvenient planting method and high maintenance requirements. Apart from this, nothing negative can be said about this vegetable, but it can be harmful to people who have peptic ulcers.

To plant onion sets, choose the best varieties for the Moscow region, among which it should be noted:

• Crimson Ball;
• Campillo F1;
• Retro;
• Red Baron.

The blue type of onion has become popular among the Russian population, primarily for its beneficial qualities for the body. In addition, many appreciated it for its shelf life and excellent presentation.

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